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Every year, American Legion Riders of Post 107 in Leeds, Ala., don their helmets and ride their motorbikes to Camp Smile-a-Mile, a place where children with cancer go to enjoy the great outdoors. The Riders bring along a giant, symbolic "check" with a dollar amount written on it for the amount of donations. Last month, they delivered a check for $30,000.
"I am very proud to say that our riders raised $9,612 of this total," Secretary-Treasurer Jamie Levan says. "Although Chapter 107 contributes to many different charities at the community, state and national level, we have made this our primary charity."
Camp Smile-a-Mile ("Camp Sam") has a special place in Levan's heart. In 2000, her son, Corey, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Their family attended the camp for six years. During that time, Corey had 26 months of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation treatments. Then, in 2003, his cancer went into remission. Corey is 20 years old now, and his mother says he is doing "fantastic.
Levan says Camp Sam "is a wonderful organization, and they took care of us when I had absolutely nothing to give in return. Now it's my turn to take care of them."
The Alabama Legion Riders got a police escort from the Jefferson County Police Department on their ride to the camp, about 85 miles from Birmingham. On their arrival, the Riders were greeted by more than 80 childen who waved banners and held signs that read, "Thank you, Bikers." The Legionnaires dismounted and greeted the long line of campers, giving them "high fives" and handing out stuffed monkeys (Camp Sam's mascot).
The group formed a huge circle, and the Riders' chaplain said a prayer. Then bikers and campers paired off to have lunch together; some of them already knew each other from previous gatherings, others live in the same neighborhoods. Levan and Chapter 107 Director Lee Held say did not spot their "lunch buddy" from last year; they worried about why she wasn't there. "Many campers come back year after year but, unfortunately, some don't survive their illness to come back."
After lunch, most of the kids headed to the bikes for close-up inspections. They tried on helmets and gloves, hopped onto the bikes and revved their engines. A few campers, with permission from their parents, even enjoyed short rides.
"Before my son got sick, I had never heard of Camp Smile-a-Mile," Levan says. "Visit their Web site and see all the fantastic things that they do."
